Health Clinic Operations

Students with acute and chronic health conditions will continue to receive care, support and implementation of the medical management plans at school. Infection prevention measures will be implemented to prevent or minimize interaction of well visits and illness visits.

Well Visits (“Well Clinic”)

Each campus will establish a Well Clinic location and procedures

• All classrooms should be stocked with first aid supplies
• A room designated and outfitted for non-illness visits
• When feasible, Campus RN may provide direct care in the classroom
• When feasible and as assigned by the Principal, staff may administer medications, provide diabetes care, or other procedures in the classroom. The Campus RN will provide skills training, prepare supplies, and prepare unit-dose medications daily. The Campus RN will follow all Board of Nursing delegation procedures and district training requirements for any delegated special procedures.
• Students and staff will wear masks or cloth face covering when entering the Well Clinic

Students may independently visit the Well Clinic location at scheduled times (routine medication administration, diabetes care, tube feeding, catheterization, etc.).

• Teachers will contact the Campus RN prior to a non-emergency Well Clinic visit. Teachers will notify the Campus RN promptly of “as needed” well visits, such as a student with complaints of low blood glucose

Illness Visits (“Sick Clinic”)

Each campus will establish a Sick Clinic location and procedures.

• A room designated and outfitted for illness visits
• Clinic staff use of appropriate PPE
• Social distancing and barriers
• Students will wear masks or cloth face covering when entering the Sick Clinic

Teachers and staff will contact the Campus RN to notify them of a student with illness symptoms. The Campus RN will provide a visit time.

• Students should be triaged by the nurse prior to coming to the Sick Clinic
• Students may independently come to the Sick Clinic at the designated time.
• Staff may bring a student to the Sick Clinic at a designated time.
• Masks or face coverings are strongly encouraged in hallways and common areas.
• Call or radio the nurse to the student’s location in the event of severe illness (respiratory distress/blue, unconscious, severely lethargic).

Communicable Disease Monitoring and Response

Health Services staff will monitor communicable illness internally (campus students and staff) and externally (local, state, national and global). Current guidance specific to communicable disease concerns will be implemented. Health Services will comply with the Texas Department of State Health Services Reportable Conditions requirements.

Aerosolizing Procedures

Nebulized medications are considered an aerosolizing procedure that generates higher concentrations of infectious respiratory aerosols than coughing, talking or breathing and should be avoided at school. Aerosolizing procedures put healthcare personnel and others nearby at an increased risk for exposure to COVID-19. The Campus RN will collaborate with the student’s parent and healthcare provider to obtain medication in a metered dose inhaler (MDI) with a spacer for administration at school. In the event that a MDI and spacer are not appropriate for the student, nebulized medication will be administered with the following precautions.

• Nurses will wear goggles, N95 masks, gowns and gloves during nebulization therapy.
• Nebulization therapy will be administered in a designated location that can be closed for the remainder of the day.